Ban Ki-Moon Commends Malaysia For Supporting UN Initiatives

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), March 22 (Bernama) -- United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon commended Malaysia for its strong involvement in UN peacekeeping operations as well as its commitment to support various UN initiatives, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Thursday. He said Ban, at a meeting with him today, also commended on the imminent development growth and rapid pace of progress taking place in Malaysia. Najib (right) said the meeting also touched on the Global Movement of the Moderates, an idea mooted by Malaysia, and Ban (left) suggested that Malaysia should work closely with the United Nation's Alliance of Civilisations. "We also talked about regional development, and I informed His Excellency of our role in Mindanao in the southern Philippines ... to support the peace process there, and also our participation in assisting the Thai government to resolve the situation in southern Thailand," he said at a joint news conference with Ban after the meeting, at his office here. Ban arrived on Wednesday on a two-day official visit to Malaysia. Najib said the meeting also touched on Palestine, and he informed Ban that the issue is very close to the heart of all Malaysians. "We are committed to doing our level best in the pursuit of global peace and development, and I reassured His Excellency that Malaysia will do more within our affordability to move towards development and peace," he said. Asked to comment on Myanmar's invitation to the Asean secretariat to send a five-member observer delegation, accompanied by three media personnel, to observe its April 1 by-elections, Najib said Malaysia welcomed Myanmar's invitation for participation in some form of international monitoring of its coming elections. "I will be visiting Myanmar next week, and I will have the opportunity to discuss with the president of the government (Thein Sein). Our position is that we will give all our encouragement to the process of national reconciliation and the democratic return to democracy in Myanmar," he said. Ban commended Malaysia's initiatives and welcomed the positive developments in Myanmar. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA